Sorry for the long delay in the posts but we have been in remote places without access to the internet, I will get caught up with a few posts in the next couple of days. I am also going to post a link to Snapfish for additional photos should you be interested.
It blew again all last night and this morning so far. As I said in the “quick post” all the ferry service has been cancelled for the next 3 days so from the point of view
of being here for Up Helly A. we made a good choice. It remains to be seen if some of the musicians who were scheduled actually make it.
Steve and I braved the elements and went for a drive to Sandness which is about as far west as you can go on the mainland. It consists of maybe 20 houses, all spread out, a village hall, Post Office/store and a factory that knits woolen products, Jamison Woolens.
There was a sign that visitors were welcome and we went in. They said we were welcome to “wander around and ask anyone we saw any questions. Also “Please do not touch anything that looks dangerous or is moving”. That appeared to be the extent of the Safety Briefing! Needless to say we complied. They make scarves, sweaters and other articles in traditional weaves. We saw several boxes marked for “Simply Shetland” a store in Washington state as well as other destinations like Tokyo. It looks like they employ about 10-12 people and most of the machinery was likely recycled from other mills that have closed. Some machines seemed to run on punch card readers rather than computer controlled.
We drove around on mostly single lane roads. The way it works is that there are designated “Passing Places” about 100 yards apart on more frequently traveled roads and maybe 300 yards on less traveled roads. Who ever is nearest the passing place pulls over and the car coming the other way passes with a customary wave, or at night a toot on the horn. All very courteous and civilized!
The roads are really in excellent shape all across the islands and places I have been to so far. The edges are marked in white (on the single lane roads there is no centerline!) and there are posts on the sides on curves and low places to mark the road in the snow.
Steve is keen to see some otters, and we hope we can achieve this on Unst over the weekend.
We saw some seals today in one of the harbors and counted nine in one place. The best photo I got is pathetic and only shows three. They are curious creatures and stick their heads up and then dive and come up in a slightly different location, having told their mates that there is something of interest on an otherwise (otterwise?) dull boring day in the life of a seal!
We are off out this evening to Lerwick for dinner at an Indian restaurant. I do not know the name but Alison took care of the owner’s wife recently. We are also going to the “Ghurka Kitchen” on Monday I think. It is Nepalese and Indian food. Who would have thought it in Shetland .
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